Radiator shutter control



June 26, 1934. J, HQRTQN RADIATOR SHUTTER CONTROL Original Filed March21, 1929 INVENTOR JOHN l. HORTON MC% ATTORNEY iatented June 26, 1934RADIATOR SHUTTER CONTROL John I. Horton, Chicago, 111., assignor toPines Winter-front Company, a corporation of Dela.-

ware

Application March 21, 1929, Serial No. 348,728 Renewed July 13, 1932 9Claims.

This invention relates to a radiator shutter control for closures usedwith automobile and like radiators, and is particularly applicable to Ithe well known automatic type in which radiator shutters are operated bya thermostat in response to changes in engine temperature. In devices ofthis type, the thermostat operates to open or close the shutters bydegrees as the engine warms or cools. Hence, when the motor is warm andthe motor isstopped, as when the car is parked, the

shutters will stay open until the motor is comparatively cool. For thisreason usual automatic types of radiator closures give comparativelylittle protection to the engine after it has stopped.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide mechanismwhich will insure closing of the radiator shutters immediately afterstopping of the engine, so that the motor will stay warm for a greatertime after stopping thereof. Another object is to provide such meanswhich will be applicable to radiator closures of the automatic type andwhich will not interfere with automatic operation thereof when the motoris running, but which will insure closing of the shutters the moment theengine stops. Other objects are to provide mechanism which automaticallyoperates to close the radiator when the engine stops, despite inactionon the part of the hand or automatic closure operating means by whichthe closure is operated during running of the motor, or the absence ofsuch means. Other objects are to provide simple and effective means forinsuring action of the shutters as above and the production of means forcontrolling closing of the shutters from the suction of the enginemanifold.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainconstructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then setforth in the hereunto appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which like characters of referenceindicate the same or like parts: I

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are plan views, partly in section,

of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the same with the closure shell broken away;and

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided in a closurefor automotive engine radiators, the combination with shutters adaptedto be opened and closed, of engine controlled mechanism for immediatelyclosing the shutters when the engine stops. The best constructions alsoinclude thermostatically controlled means governing the action of theshutter while the engine is running. Preferably, the engine controlledmechanism includes a suction device operated from the manifold of theengine.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown applied to aconventional automobile engine 6 having the usual intake manifold 7 anda fan 8 for drawing air through a radiator 9. In front of this radiatorin position to control the flow of air through it is the radiatorclosure provided with a frame or shell 10 supported from the radiatorand having a series of shutters 11 pivoted to the frame and providedwith arms 12, linked. together by a bar 13 which is pulled up by aspring 14, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the shutters are constantly urgedtowards closed position. Suitable shutter operating linkage is providedconsisting of a bell crank 15 pivoted at 16 and having one arm connectedto the bar 13 and the other arm connectedto the link 17, which in turnis pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank 18 pivoted at 19 andcarrying on its other arm the roller 20. Through this train of operatinglinkage, outward pressure from the direction of the radiator on theroller 20 will cause the shutters to open against the action of spring14, and withdrawal of such pressure will immediately permit the shuttersto close.

The closure selected to illustrate the invention is provided with aconventional thermostat 21 of the type commonly used for automatic ra-'diator closures, which expands in response to an increase in the enginetemperature and contracts on cooling. Thisthermostat is secured at oneend to a frame 22 fastened to the frame 10, and carries on its other ormoving end an operating roller 23 which is positioned opposite theroller 20, forming part of the shutter operating linkage alreadydescribed. The roller v20 is so positioned that there is a small spacebetween it and the roller 23, even when the motor is hot and thethermostat expanded.

The structure already described would be sufficient to operate theshutters satisfactorily while. I

the engine was running, but would fail to close the shutters immediatelyafter the engine stopped running and thus permit dissipation of the en-"gine heat when it is most desirable that it be conserved.

There is,,therefore, provided means controlled by the engine forinsuring that the shutters shall be closed immediatelyon stopping of theengine.

This means consists of a generally wedge shaped element 24 interposedwedgewise between the 'with other radiator closures, either of the handparallel faces 30, adjacent the base of this elerollers and 23 andcarried by a stem 25 fast to a piston 26 operating in a cylinder 27having limited pivotal movement on the frame 10 and in communicationthrough suitable flexible tubing 28 with the manifold 7 of theautomobile engine. This piston is spring pressed towards its upper limitof movement against the effect of suction from the engine manifold, by aspring 29.

Thus, when there is no suction due to stopping of the motor, the wedgeshaped member will be in its uppermost position with the narrow portionof the wedge, which portion is a little less in width than the spacebetween the rollers, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position there will beno pressure exerted by the thermostat on roller 20, even though thethermostat is expanded by the heat of the engine. The stopping of themotor, therefore, results in rendering inoperative the connectingmechanism between the thermostat and the shutters, and permits theshutters to immediately close.

While the engine is going, however, the suction of the engine will drawthe piston against the spring to the position shown in Figs. 1

' 1 and 2, with the wedge in lowered position with its broadest partbetween the rollers 23 and 20. In this position, any expansion of thethermostat will exert pressure on the roller 20, thereby through theshutter operating linkage opening ,the shutter an amount proportional tothe expansion of the thermostat. It will, therefore, be

seen that the thermostat governs the action of the shutters while theengine is running, and when the engine stops, this thermostat control isincapacitated and the shutters are immediately closed.

While in the particular embodiment shown the invention has been appliedto a radiator closure of the automatic thermostatically controlled type,it will be apparent that the invention may be used operated type or of atype having no other op erating means than that provided by theinvention. For instance, if a simplified closure with- 1 out automaticcontrol when the engine is running is desired, the thermostat whichactuates the roller 23 may be omitted and the roller fixed in its outerposition.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the sides of the wedge shaped element24 have substantially ment. The parallel faces provide a certain freedomof movement of the wedge shaped element at running speeds without anyeffect on the ;position of the shutters determined by the thermostat 21.During normal operation of the engine, the manifold vacuum variesconsiderably, with the result that the piston 26 moves to a certainextent within the cylinder 27. During the normal running of theautomobile the parallel faces 30 remain in contact with the rollers 20and 23 so that the shutters do not respond to the variations of manifoldpressure, but remain in the position determined by the thermostat 21.

Thus, the particular structure selected to illustrate the invention isbut one of many possibleconcrete embodiments of the same. The invention,therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of thestructure shown and described.

What I claim is: i

1. In a closure for automotive engine radiators, the combination with aframe adapted to be supported from the radiator, of shutters supportedby said frame and adapted to be opened and closed, means supported bysaid frame for closing said shutters when the engine is stopped,mechanism for opening said shutters in varying amounts in accordancewith variations in the engine temperature while the engine is running,and a device supported by said frame and governed by suction from themanifold of the engine and cooperating with said mechanism to enable thelatter to open said shutters while the engine is running and permittingsaid means to close the shutters when the engine is stopped, said deviceincluding a cylinder pivoted on said frame and connected to the manifoldof the engine, a spring pressed piston in said cylinder, and a generallywedge-shaped member rigidly connected to said piston.

2. In a closure for automotive engine radiators, the combination withshutters adapted to be opened and closed, of means for closing theshutters when the engine is stopped, mechanism for opening said shuttersin varying amounts in accordance with variations in the enginetemperature while the engine is running, and a device governed bysuction from the manifold of the engine and cooperating with saidmechanism to enable the latter to open said shutters when the engine isrunning and permitting said means to close the shutters when the engineis stopped, said device including a cylinder connected to the manifoldof the engine, a spring pressed piston in said cylinder, and a generallywedge shaped member rigidly connected to said piston, and said mechanismincluding linkage connected to said shutters and a thermostat adapted toactuate said linkage to open said shutters, said wedge shaped memberbeing interposed between said thermostat and said linkage.

3. A radiator shutter comprising a frame and shutter elements pivotallymounted therein, means carried by the frame for actuating said shutterelements, thermostatic means located within the frame and responsive toradiator temperature, a cylinder pivotally mounted on said frame andadapted to be connected to the intake manifold of the engine, a pistonin said cylinder, and a wedge shaped member rigidly carried by saidpiston and adapted to connect both said means operatively when theengine is running.

4. A radiator shutter comprising a frame and shutter elements pivotallymounted therein, a spring tending to close said shutter elements, meansadapted to be operated to open said shutter elements, thermostatic meansresponsive to engine temperature, a cylinder having a pivotal mountingadapted to be connected to the intake manifold of the engine, a pistonwithin the cylinder and a wedge shaped element rigidly carried by saidpiston and adapted to connect operatively the thermostatic means and theshutter opening means when the engine is running.

5. A radiator shutter including pivotally mounted shutter elements, aspring tending to close said shutter elements, means adapted to beoperated to open said shutter elements, thermostatic means responsive toengine temperature, a cylinder adapted to be connected to the intakemanifold of the engine, a piston within the cylinder, and a Wedge shapedelement connected to said piston and adapted to connect operatively thethermostatic means and the shutter opening means when the engine isrunning, said wedge shaped element having its sides adjacent the basesubstantially parallel to permit a certain degree of movement of saidelement without affecting the degree of opening of the shutter.

6. A radiator shutter including pivotally mounted shutter elements, aspring tending to close said shutter elements, means adapted to beoperated to open said shutter elements, thermostatic means responsive toengine temperature, a pivotally mounted cylinder adapted to be connectedto the intake manifold of the engine, a piston within the cylinder, anda Wedge shaped element rigidly carried by said piston and adapted toconnect operatively the thermostatic means and the shutter opening meanswhen the engine is running, said wedge shaped element having its sidesadjacent the base substantially parallel to permit a certain degree ofmovement of said element Without affecting the degree of opening of theshutter.

7. A radiator shutter including pivotally mounted shutter elements, aspring tending to close said shutter elements, means adapted to beoperated to open said shutter elements, thermostatic means responsive toengine temperature, a cylinder adapted to be connected to the intakemanifold of the engine, a piston within the cylinder, a wedge shapedelement connected to said piston and adapted to connect operatively thethermostatic means and the shutter opening means when the engine isrunning, said wedge shaped element having its sides adjacent the basesubstantially parallel to permit a certain degree of movement of saidelement without affecting the degree of opening of the shutter, andanti-friction means on said thermostatic means and said shutter openingmeans adapted to facilitate the movement of the wedge shaped element.

8. A radiator shutter including pivotally mounted shutter elements, a,spring tending to close said shutter elements, means adapted to beoperated to open said shutter elements, thermostatic means responsive toengine temperature, a pivotally mounted cylinder adapted to be connectedto the intake manifold of the engine, a piston within the cylinder, awedge shaped element rigidly carried by said piston and adapted toconnect operatively the thermostatic means and the shutter opening meanswhen the engine is running, said wedge shaped element having its sidesadjacent the base substantially parallel to permit a certain degree ofmovement of said element without affecting the degree of opening of theshutter, and anti-friction means on said thermostatic means and saidshutter Opening means adapted to facilitate the movement of the wedgeshaped element.

9. A radiator shutter including pivotally mounted shutter elements,means for actuating said shutter elements, thermostatic means responsiveto radiator temperature, a pivotally mounted cylinder adapted to beconnected to the intake manifold of the engine, a piston in saidcylinder, a wedge shaped member rigidly carried by said piston andadapted to connect both said means operatively when the engine isrunning, and anti-friction devices carried by both said means adapted tofacilitate the movement of the wedge shaped member.

JOHN I. HORTON.

